NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport baseball team will take it's sterling 5-0 start to the season into this weekend, hosting Susquehanna University and Ithaca College for three games. The Captains will first face off against the Crusaders on Friday, February 26 at 2:00 pm, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday and one more game against Susquehanna on Sunday at 1:00 pm. The twin bill on Saturday will feature a neutral site game at Captains Park at 11:00 am, followed immediately by the CNU vs. Ithaca matchup at 2:00 pm. 

Head coach John Harvell and the Captains are off to a sizzling start this season, running off five straight victories while outscoring opponents, 62-20. Senior outfielder Tommy Vitaletti has been at the front of the offensive outpouring, and was named the NCBWA National Player of the Week earlier in the day Thursday for his stellar start. Vitaletti is hitting .700 (14-20) and leads the Capital Athletic Conference in nearly every offensive statistical category. He has driven in 12 runs, scored 10 times and has gone 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts. 

Also contributing offensively has been sophomore catcher Brandon Walker, joining Vitaletti on the D3baseball.Com National Team of the Week announced on Tuesday. Walker is hitting .545 (6-11) and has a pair of home runs so far this season. Kyle Corwin (.385), Connor Henderson (.364), Austin Henry (.333), and Brandon Ginch (.308) are all hitting over .300 for the Captains are hitting .353 as a team. 

Susquehanna will open their season against the Captains on Friday afternoon, coming into the contest picked fifth in the Landmark Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Crusaders went 18-17 last season and will be led by first team All-Conference catcher Zach Leone, who hit over .400 last season. Live stats for both of CNU's games against Susquehanna will be available at CNUsports.com/live. 

Ithaca will also be opening their season this weekend, as the Bombers will face off against Susquehanna first on Saturday, followed by a 2:00 pm first pitch against the Captains. After a 20-14 season last year, Ithaca has been tabbed as the No. 37 ranked team in the nation in the 2016 preseason, according to Collegiate Baseball News.